Ringmaster: Ladies and Gentlemen, we are proud
to introduce the Den __ Flea Circus. Prepare to be amazed at the extraordinary
skill of these miniature performers! First up, we have Hugo, who will walk the
tight rope. When he reaches the middle, he will do a double somersault. Silence
please!

Two scouts hold a string taut while a 3rd places a
"flea" on the string. They all pretend to be watching the flea's progress. The
3rd boy breathes in with deep amazement, then suddenly begins choking/gagging
sounds

3rd Cub: "Uh Oh! I swallowed Hugo!"

Ringmaster: "Well, uhh... on with the show! Next
we have Homer The Diving Flea! Homer will jump from this Scout's hand into the
water and then back again!

Scout holds his hand, palm up and carefully
approaches a cup. They all pretend to see Homer jump into and then back out of
the water.

The scout who had his hand out also claps -- then
realizes what he's done...

1st Scout: "Oh, No! Homer!"

Opens his palms to the audience as if he's squished
Homer

Ringmaster: "Well, hmmm. Folks, the show must go
on! and for our final act, we have Hector the Jockey Flea! Hector can ride
around on a Cub Scout's back without falling off!

1st Cub pretends to place a flea on 2nd cub's back.
2nd cub then runs around for a few seconds.

Ringmaster: "See! He hung on! Way to go Hector!"

One of the other Cubs pats the 2nd cub's back and
says "Way to go, Buddy!" then realizes what he's done.

3rd Scout: "Uh-Oh."

All the scouts run off...

Center Ring Antics

Longhorn Council

A circus means clowns, and lots of
them. Present a series of clown acts using the ideas below as starters. Have the
ringmaster introduce the acts and time them together.

The Lion Tamer #1

A clown comes in with five “lions”.
The tamer cracks his whip as the lions circle single file around him. Suddenly,
one lion comes up behind the tamer and bites his leg. The tamer stops, glares,
then proceeds to get the lions going again. A second lion bites his leg; the
tamer again stops and then proceeds. The same thing happens with lions three and
four. And then lion five bites his arm. After the final bite, the tamer leads
them off and comes back to take his bows.

Ringmaster: “Heavens, that was quite a performance, but a
little dangerous, isn’t it?”

Tamer: “On no, I don’t mind. It helps with my
research.”

Ringmaster: “What do you mean?”

Tamer: “Well, it just goes to prove that four
out of five lions prefer legs.”

Elephant Walk

The clown trainer comes on with a
group of elephants, wearing oversized tennis shoes. The elephants parade in a
line, bent over as though walking on all fours. At a signal from the trainer,
they stand up straight as though they were standing on their hind legs.

The elephants bend down again and at
another signal, put one hand on the shoulder of the elephant in front of the.
They parade in a circle and go off. The trainer comes forward to take a bow and
then

Ringmaster That was a most unusual act. I never heard a
group of elephants parade so quietly.”

Trainer: Oh, of course they’re quiet, didn’t you
notice?”

Ringmaster: Notice? Notice what?”

Trainer Brings out one of the elephants with
the large tennis shoes on :Elephants are always quiet when they wear their
sneakers.

Bareback Rider

Two clowns come out and get down on
all fours, facing the audience. A third clown comes out and stands on their
backs, facing the audience, then he gets down and comes forward and takes his
bow.

Ringmaster: Is that the whole act?”

Clown: Well, of course, what more did you want?”

Ringmaster: A little more than that! What makes you think
you’re a bareback rider?”

The clown turns around and shows his back, which is
bare, and walks off.

High Wire Act

The clowns come on and single file
walks along an imaginary wire on the floor. They use the standard umbrella to
help balance themselves and make the walking look difficult. After they all
finish, the clowns come forward and take their bows.

Ringmaster: That was an amazing, skillful performance,
but I thought it was suppose to be a high wire act.

Lion Tamer: Now the lions will build a pyramid! Nero!
Rex! Killer! (He cracks whip and each lion as he is called, gets off box. Two
stand on all fours while the third lion climbs on their backs. All do a lot of
roaring.

Remaining lions try doing the same thing “messing up of
course” and as Lion Tamer cracks whip and lions break from the pyramid and
prowl, roaring. . .Lion Tamer cracks whip to drive them back to boxes and shoots
cap pistol.

Lion Tamer: (Moving to a safe distance) Now, Ladies &
Gentlemen, to show you how fearless these lions are, they will jump through a
burning hoop! (Holds up “ring of fire” but lions sit tight and paw the air with
their front paws in a downward motion. Lion Tamer lowers hoop a little. Lions
repeat the action and Lion Tamer lowers the hoop a little more. Lions repeat the
action a third time. Lion Tamer shrugs, rest hoop on the ground, the scoots
through, as Lion Tamer looks sheepishly at audience. Ringmaster holds up
applause sign, Lion Tamer bows and gets nipped again. He cracks whip and shoots
cap pistol to chase roaring lions back up on boxes.)

Setting: Circus music could be playing in the background. Turn the sound up
for each performance, down while the ringmaster is speaking.

Ringmaster: Ladies and Gentlemen! Boys and Girls! Welcome to the Den ______
amazing Silly Circus. Please turn your attention to the center ring and watch
the incredible strength of Stanley, the Strongest Man in the World, and his
assistant Walter Wimple!

(Stanley brings out a barbell made of foam
or cardboard with 500 Ibs. written on both sides. He struggles to lift it over
his head. Walter encourages audience to clap when Stanley puts down the bar
bells. Stanley bows and walks away. Walter picks up the barbells as though they
were as light as a feather and exits.)

(Razzle and Dazzle
enter with a long rope. They lay it out straight and take turns walking across
it as though they are in the air, they hop on one foot, jump rope, etc., bowing
after each "trick".)

Ringmaster: Now for your viewing
enjoyment, please focus your attention again to the middle ring as we present
Bruce, the brave bareback rider on his horse, Smokey!

(Bruce rides in on a stick horse. He rides
for­wards and backwards, etc. He can have Smokey count by hitting stick on the
floor. Bruce and Smokey bow and ride off stage.)

Ringmaster: And finally, Ladies and
Gentlemen! Boys and Girls! The most super stupendous Lyonal, the lionhearted
lion tamer in ring number one! Please, ladies and gentleman, It is so important
that you remain quiet during the performance. Sudden noises will startle the
lion, making it very dangerous for Lyonal to be in the cage. And now, Lyonal,
the lion-hearted and his lion, Luke!

(Lyonal and Luke enter. Luke could be
dressed in an elaborate lion costume or something as simple as a brown paper bag
cut into strips to make a mane. Lyonal has Luke stand on a stool, jump through a
hula hoop, etc. Lyonal tries to place his head inside Luke's mouth. Lyonal and
Luke take final bow.)

Ringmaster: Thank you, one and all
for joining us tonight at the Den _____ amazing, incredible,
stupendous, silly circus! We hope you've enjoyed our show. So until we meet
again, at the Circus, Good Night!

Materials found in Baloo's
Bugle may be used by Scouters for Scouting activities provided that
Baloo's Bugle and the original contributors are cited as the source of the
material.